Bank protective system



March 1933- c. H. ROHRIG BANK PROTECTIVE SYSTEM Filed Feb. 25, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3nnen t0r I Char-2a.? 74/. R071 mt u. e m If.

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March 8, 1938. c, H, HR 2,110,177

BANK PROTECTIVE SYSTEM Filed Feb. 23, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (Q I Zmnentor 672a 7"Z@.s frfiRqh 71.9,

2 .3 BE 1 I 4 Patented Mar. 8, 1938 2,llt,l77

BANK PROTECTIVE SYSTEM Iowa Application February 23, 1937, Serial No. 127,099

2 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in protective systems for banks and other institutions or buildings which receive or contain money or other valuable property or documents subject to 5 attack by force or robbery.

One object of my improvements is to supply a robber and bullet proof structure, including cooperating window closures also of bullet proof material, the assemblage being thus protected against felonious attack.

Another object of my improvements is to provide the inclosure with bullet proof bendable joint connections between compartment walls or cages, or between the front and side walls of booths which are single compartments, the joint connections meeting angularly and whereby the said walls may be positioned relatively as desired at different angles apart.

Another object of my improvements is to also supply in the structure of the inclosure supporting posts whose components are fire and bullet proof casings rigidly connected, for joining the parts of the inclosure walls and armoring, and wherein certain of the posts are constructed with channeled seats to receive and seat the openable armored window closures.

Another object of my improvements is to cover the window openings and other adjacent open portions of the inclosure in alinement therewith horizontally with fire-proof netting whose relatively large meshes will afford a clear view from within the inclosure of the lobby therewithout, said open portions, when the window closures are lowered, being closed and thus armored against attack from without.

Another object of my improvements is to include in the upper portion of the inclosure a permanent closure therefor of bullet proof wire netting or other suitable armor.

Another object of my improvements is to supply window closures, whether single or double, with cushioning means to thus prevent injury to a user when the closure or closures are falling upon a counter.

' Another object of my improvements is to furnish means for equalizing or balancing the actions ofthe relatively movable component window parts while operating, to thus insure equal and satisfactory functioning thereof.

a Another object of my improvements is to pro vide means whereby a teller or other person may release an upraised window closure or closures, either singly or in instantaneous closing thereof, such means being either single, or multi-connected and associated for simultaneous action.

Various modifications in the details of construction and arrangement of parts of the structures, and apparatus with their connections, may be made without departure from the principles and scope of said inventions as defined in the following claims.

The invention is illustrated in the drawings filed herewith. Fig. 1 is an elevation taken from the rear, of the Windowed armored structures, with the window closures raised and releasably secured, and exhibiting electrically operable, and other means, for simultaneously lowering the closures, and Fig. 2 is an elevation of the front of said structures as seen from a lobby, and with the window closures raised as in Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively catch devices for the laterally alined window closures when elevated, and arranged suitably for exercising a balancing effect upon the closures while simultaneously falling when the catches are suitably relatively shifted in their differently directed positions. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the intermediate bearing for the operating rock-shaft, with a portion broken away, to show the structural arrangement adopted for preventing any displacements of the shaft longitudinally or crosswise in the bearing other than those proper for its functioning. Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal cross section of one of the armored posts and closure-slideways. Fig. 7 is a horizontal cross section of the bendable curvate bullet proof angle connection between wall parts of the inclosure.

Figs. 8 and 9 are vertical cross sections of the pairs of closures as in lowered positions.

Figs. 1 and 2 are representations of a unit booth, tellers cage, or compartment, showing its front wall structure according to my invention. While the components of this structure and of the accompanying mechanisms or apparatus may be varied, as desired and according to the needs of a certain business, the construction has been simplified, and as thought, made particularly suitable for modern use and conditions.

The numeral 1 denotes a counter, basal supporting means for which are not shown. Upon the counter and its laterally projecting parts are fixed spaced and armored posts, of compounded elements and upon whose tops are fixed longitudinal beams, such as a metal beam 9, and above that an ornamental coping member 3. On its front or lobby face the posts 2 aid in supporting the members 9 and 3 on the part i rigidly. At one end of this beam and post structure, a bendable curvate or inwardly hollowed corner standard 4 is fixed thereon by overlapped connecting parts and has a rearward supporting post I at a right angle to the main structure. As shown in Fig. 2, a crossbeam 2a connects medially or nearly so the posts 2. Bullet-proof wire netting 5, or an equivalent material such as bulletproof glass or other material, closes the upper openings between the posts 2 and the crossbeam 2 11, while below the crossbeam the lower openings are closed by a relatively light wide meshed netting 6, through whose meshes the teller or another person in the cage may View persons in the lobby. As shown in Fig. 2, a narrow opening 6b is provided in the lower part of the netting 6 above the counter I adjacent one post 2 at the tellers location facing outwardly, the lower edge of the netting there being secured to a horizontal cross-bar 6a,. This opening or port may be used in the passing of papers or documents outwardly or inwardly over the counter I, the netting above the cross-rod or bar 6a preventing another from reaching inwardly from without.

Referring now to Fig. 1 again, the compound posts shown in Fig. 6 may be used, spaced apart between the crossbeam 9 and counter I, and having side slideways between outer plates 8a and metal casings around a wooden core Ill, and separated by a spacing bar 8b.

The said posts have opposite to the slideways, the outwardly facing inwardly bent marginal plates!) (Fig. 6) secured by bolts I3 to inner channeled plates I2 whose margins are seated within the bent margins of the said plates 9. These posts afford fireproof and bullet-proof construction, as the inclosed wooden cores It cannot be destroyed ordinarily by outer fires, but only' slightly charred in some cases, and thus the metal coverings are supported from warping. In Fig. '7

the curvate corner plate 4 is shown with its marv the appropriate means.

gins secured to wood and metal posts of slightly different construction. The post 2 is reversely bent to receive the side edges of the nettings 5 and 5, and a wooden core 2a is seated in the post. The other margin is bent angularly to inclose and fit a wooden core Ia. 'It is obvious thatthe inwardly hollowed plate 4 may be bent straight to be in practical alinement with the fronts of the wall structures and uniting adjacent cages, or may be bent and shaped in curvature to direct a side wall at a desired angle rearwardly from the front wall of the cage.

The posts 8 are shown as having different widths of spacing, but may be evenly spaced if desired. In these interspaces and vertically slidable in the slideways forward of plates 8a are bullet-proof window closures. The window closure I4 is wider than the other upper closure 56, but both are substantially of the same length, so that when raised they are behind the whole of the bullet-proof upper netting 5. A teller therefore has a distinct View through the lower Wide-meshed netting 5 of any person approaching. The view is widened through the interspaces of the bars 8a largely, giving the teller opportunity to see an approaching robber at a distance, and affording the opportunity to quickly lower .the closures by either of different agencies at hand, or to close all of the closures simultaneously by Below the closure I4 a narrower stationary plate I5 closes the lower portion of the netting 6. Below the upper closure I6 is seated a narrower and overlapping closure plate I'I.

Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, in Fig. 8 is shown a vertical section of the closure plates I4 and I5, the one upwardly movable and the latter stationery. The upper plate or closure I4 is shown as lowered to cover the netting 6 in coaction with the closure I5. On the closure I4 is a rearwardly projecting catch I4d whose use is to be described, and a Z-bar I la is mounted on the lower end of the closure I4 rearwardly and has a sponge rubber bar I40 seated in the downwardly opening channel of the Z-bar to project therebeyond downwardly. On the rear upper part of the relatively fixed closure I5 is secured a like but upwardly opening Z-bar I5b seating a similar sponge rubber bar I5a, and when the closure I4 is down, the two rubber bars are in contact. When the closure I4 is suddenly lowered by the teller, his hand is not injured if hit thereby when on the cushioned bars I40 and I5a between them.

At the opposite side of the middle post 8, the narrower upper closure I6, as shown in Fig. 9, slightly overlaps the lower movable closure II when both are in their lowered positions. When all of the closures I4, I6, and II are raised, the lower closure I'I overlaps the lower part of the closure It to a greater extent, placing the lower ends of the closures I6 and I4 in alinement, as shown in Fig. 1. In the Fig. 8 the closures I5 and I? are'shown as lowered together to entirely close the tellers window space below the bulletproof netting 5. The closure I5 has a forwardly bent top flange Ilia. On the backing member II is fixed anupwardly opening angle-bar IIb carrying a sponge rubber bar Ila, so that the latter is a cushion for said closure when down. The lower closure member IT has a rearwardly extending horizontal loop Na and below this on the lower end of the forward face of the closure is a Z-bar I'Ib seating a depending similarly projecting cushion bar I 10. With the cushioning devices of the closures of both Figs. 8 and 9, a teller, if his hand is caught between a descending heavy closure and the rigid structure beneath,

is not injured because of this cushioning effect.

I have provided means for instantly dropping the single movable closure I4 and both of the movable closures I6 and Il simultaneously. When the latter pair are dropped the lower closure I! covers the narrow opening 51) under the crossbar 6a.

The numeral I8 denotes a horizontal rockshaft seated in bearings 22, I9, and 23 on the three posts 8. As shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the bearing-block I9 has the shaft I8 seated in a traversing opening of its boss. The boss has a short circumferentially directed slot I9a traversed by a headed fixed pin I8a radially to rock with said shaft. The pin prevents longitudinal shifting of the shaft in said bearing, and also limits the scope of rocking movement thereof.

Referring to said Fig. 1, a fixed knob I81) is provided on the rock-shaft I8, convenient for the teller to use manually in rocking the shaft to release it from both of the catches I'Ia and Mid, so that the movable closures may descend suddenly and simultaneously. When there is occasion to close all the closures in case of an impending attack, and the shaft I 8 is by universal joints connected in multiple sections, a teller may by the use of the knob I8b rock the jointed shaft to close all the closures together. However, in order to insure of such a multipleclosing, I provide other means therefor, operable from any closure window or other location, by electric devices shown.

On one extremity of the rock-shaft I8 are a pair of narrowly separated fixed arms I80. The

numeral 29 denotes a solenoid magnet device with movable projecting core 2'! connected to and between the arms I by a link 26. A traction spring 25 is connected between the pair of arms I80 and the curvate plate 4 above, tending to draw the core 28 outwardly when the electric circuit is open. This circuit consists of the pair of conductors 32 and 33 extending from the terminals 3i and 30 of the solenoid and including a source of electrical energy, such as the battery 34. This circuit may contain any desired number of loops 32 and 35, etc., to like solenoid apparatus in or near cages or other locations at a distance, and push-buttons on cross-wires to permit energizing the solenoids simultaneously, causing lowering of all closures.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, and at first to Fig. 3, a lug 2| is mounted on the rock-shaft I8 to normally be erect thereon, while on the same shaft another lug 20 depends therefrom fixedly and oppositely to the first mentioned lug 2| Screws 200. may be used to secure the lugs to the shaft. A downwardly channeled arm 21a is pivoted at one end to the top of the lug 2| at a corner thereof, the opposite termination of the arm projecting from the lug as a, detent to engage the rounded tip of the triangular catch Md to thus support the closure ll releasably in its raised position. In Fig. 4 an arm 20?) is shown as pivoted to the lower end of the lug near one corner thereof and has its outer termination beveled to engage and support the middle portion of the loop l1a on the lower closure H, a spring 200 being connected between the upper part of the lug 20 and to the termination of the arm 20b opposite its beveled end, the spring tending to yieldingly retain the arm extended as shown in Fig. 4, for keeping it in a position to support the loop as shown.

When the shaft 18 is rocked in the direction shown by the arrows in Figs. 3 and 4, the closure l4 being supported in a raised position by its catch Md engaged by the arm Zla, and the loop Ila simultaneously engaged by the arm 201), the rocking of the shaft in this direction causes both lugs 2| and 20 to release the catch Md and loop Ila, so that the single closure l4 and the pair of closure elements It and I! drop simultaneously freely to their lower positions as shown in Figs. 9 and 8 respectively, completely barring access to the. cage below the bullet proof grille or netting 5. This arrangement of said lugs 2| and 28 extending oppositely on the shaft and in use engaging the catches Md and Ila in advance of and in the rear of the shaft results in an equalization or balancing of the actions thereof in assuring an evenness of simultaneous movements of the 010- sures.

It will be understood, that any desirable means may be used to rock the shaft I8, after the c1osures have been manually lifted to engage the catches and lugs respectively, to thus drop the closures simultaneously, by manual or other means.

I claim:

1. In a protective system of the character described, in combination, spaced end and medial armored posts having vertical lateral guide slideways, an armored beam connecting rigidly the tops of said posts, an armored beam connecting rigidly the middles of said posts, grated windows between said posts and beams, horizontally alined bearings secured on said posts, a rock-shaft mounted in said bearings, a crank-arm on the rock-shaft opposite one of the lower windows and having a terminal latch end-pivoted thereto to project therefrom, a crank-arm on the rock-shaft opposite the other of the lower windows and projecting oppositely relative to the first-mentioned crank-arm, a terminal latch end-pivoted to the second crank-arm to project at its free end therefrom, a resilient connection between the free end of said latch and the crankarm, armored closures vertically slidable in said guide slideways, a med catch on one closure releasably supported on the pivoted latch of the first crank-arm in one position thereof, and a fixed catch on the second closure releasably supported on the resiliently controlled latch of the second crank-arm when the first catch is supported on the pivoted latch of the first crank-arm, whereby in their said positions relative to the oppositely directed crank-arms, the said closures are substantially counterbalanced and adapted to descend simultaneously when the rock-shaft is rocked in a direction to withdraw said cranklatches from beneath the catches on the closures.

2. In a bank protective system, in combination, spaced posts having lateral slideways, a rockshaft mounted across said posts, window closures alined horizontally between said posts and having side parts slidably seated in said slideways, a crank-arm on the rock-shaft opposite one of the closures and having a terminal latch endpivoted thereto to project therefrom, a crankarm on the rock-shaft opposite the other of said closures and projecting oppositely relative to the first-mentioned crank-arm, a, terminal latch endpivoted to the second crank-arm to project at its free end therefrom, a resilient connection between the free end of said latch and the crankarm, a fixed catch on one closure releasably supported on the pivoted latch of the first crank-arm in one position thereof, and a fixed catch on the second closure releasably supported on the resiliently controlled latch of the second crankarm when the first catch is supported on the pivoted latch of the first crank-arm, whereby in their said positions relative to the oppositely directed crank-arms, the said closures are substantially counterbalanced and adapted to descend simultaneously when the rock-shaft is rocked in a direction to withdraw said crank-latches from beneath the catches on the closures, and controllable means for at times rocking the rockshaft to thus release the closures from the crankarms, and at times to releasably secure the closures in opened positions.

CHARLES H. ROHRIG. 

